[PCA] First ‘Tree Cities of the World’ recognized (including 23 U.S. cities!)

[De Angelis, Patricia]

Discover the 59 cities approved as healthier, greener places to live under a joint initiative by FAO and the Arbor Day Foundation to encourage more resilient and sustainable cities!



The Tree Cities of the World programme is an international effort to recognize cities and towns committed to ensuring that their urban forests and trees are properly maintained, sustainably managed, and duly celebrated. The program offers a framework for action, publicity and recognition, including resources to help meet the five core standards and to make the case to become a tree city.


Urban forests help define a sense of place and well-being where people live, work, play, and learn. And the on-the-ground benefits (literally!) are numerous.



Benefits to urban forestry include reduced costs for energy, storm water management, and erosion control; boost to property values across communities; builds stronger ties to your neighborhood and community; honors your community commitment to healthier environment; provides a living demonstration of the value of trees and sustainable tree management; and improves community pride.


Around the world, 59 cities have been recognized as Tree Cities of the World, including the following 23 U.S. cities in 13 states:


*Arizona: Tempe

*California: San Francisco

*Colorado: Boulder and Thornton

*District of Columbia : Washington

*Florida: DeLand, Gainesville, Naples, Pinellas County, and Sanford

*Georgia: Atlanta, Sandy Springs

*Kansas: Newton

*Nebraska: Auburn

*New Jersey: Paramus

*New York: Greenburgh and New York City

*Ohio: Dublin, Springfield, and Westerville

*Oregon: Beaverton and Portland

*Tennessee: Germantown



To be recognized as a Tree City of the World, a town or city must meet 5 core standards:



Standard 1: Establish Authority -- The community has a written statement by city leaders delegating responsibility for the care of trees within the municipal boundary to a staff member, a city department, or a group of citizens—called a Tree Board.



Standard 2: Set the Rules -- The community adopts policies, best practices, or industry standards for managing urban trees and forests. These rules describe how work must be performed, where and when they apply, and penalties for noncompliance.



Standard 3: Know What You Have -- The community has an updated inventory or assessment of the local tree resource so that an effective long-term plan for planting, care, and removal of city trees can be established.



Standard 4: Allocate the Resources -- The community has a dedicated annual budget for the routine implementation of the tree management plan.



Standard 5: Celebrate Achievements -- The community holds an annual celebration of trees to raise awareness among residents and to acknowledge citizens and staff members who carry out the city tree programme.



RESOURCES:

--Become a tree city: https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/become-a-tree-city.cfm

--More about Tree Cities of the World: https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/about.cfm

--Tree City Core Standards [pdf]: http://www.fao.org/forestry/48025-05df046866065c1558d4490e6e7f48877.pdf

--Resources to meet the core standards: https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/resources.cfm

--Make the case to become a tree city: https://treecitiesoftheworld.org/make-the-case.cfm

--59 Cities of the World News Release: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1259576/icode/

--2018 Launch of the First World Forum on Urban Forests: http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/1171796/icode/

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